6 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Gas Smells in Your Home

After a long day of work, coming to a home filled with the scent of gasoline is the last thing you expect. While you’re used to the odor while pumping gas at the gas station, finding it in your home can be an unpleasant surprise. 

If you smell a strong gasoline odor after refilling your lawnmower or spotting a leak in your gas tank, it’s important to remove it from your home. With the right know-how, you can get rid of gasoline smells from your home in no time. 

1. Find the Source of the Smell

Gasoline leaves a strong scent, so it’s important to get rid of the source of the smell first. If you have a garage attached to your home, check for a leak in your gas tank or lawnmower. Also, inspect your gas cans for spills if you also have some in your garage. 

The smell of gasoline clings to clothing, so check your clothes for gasoline stains. You may also want to check your skin to see if it smells—the scent of gasoline lingers once it comes into contact with skin. 

If you’re not sure whether the scent is coming from gasoline, you may want to check for other hazardous gases in your home. Your well-being is most important, so confirm that your home is safe before removing the odor. 

2. Lay Charcoal Out

If you have charcoal around from your last barbecue, you can use it to absorb the smell of gasoline. Lay aluminum pans in rooms around the house that smell like gasoline, and leave the charcoal to remove the odor. Once the smell is completely gone, just discard the charcoal and enjoy your odor-free home. 

If you don’t have charcoal briquettes, you can also use activated charcoal to absorb the smell. Charcoal is also great for addressing weird smells in your home, so keep it in your backyard just in case. 

3. Absorb Spills With Cat Litter

Cat litter is effective for removing odors if you have a gasoline spill in your home or garage. Place a generous amount of cat litter over the gasoline and let it soak the liquid for one to two hours. You’ll want to do this as quickly as possible since gasoline evaporates quickly, leaving the scent lingering in your home.

Once one to two hours have passed, sweep the litter into a sealed bag. Use gloves as you handle the litter to prevent the gasoline from getting on your skin or clothing. Check with local laws so you can find out the safest way to dispose of the soaked cat litter. 

4. Leave the Windows and Doors Open

Photo: Catherine Falls Commercial / Moment / Getty Images

Try this simple solution that works well—open all the windows and doors for a few hours to clear the gasoline odor from your home. You’ll get relief from the smell as air circulates around your home and the odor makes its way out. 

If you’re doing this during the day, spend some time in your front or backyard to avoid inhaling the odor. You’ll especially want to do this if you have kids or pets to make sure they don’t inhale too much of the smell. 

For a boost, use all the fans you have to make the air circulate more quickly. With help from your ceiling and room fans, you’ll breathe fresh air at home in no time. 

5. Seal Cracks Around the Garage

If you have a gas spill and your garage is attached to your home, close the doorway and windows to the garage. Fumes and odors can easily seep through adjoining doors and windows, so place a towel at the crack under the door. It will keep much of the gasoline vapor from seeping through and prevent the smell from filling your house. 

Additionally, you can go the extra mile to prevent gas smells if your garage is attached to your home. Weatherstrip all gaps and install a door sweep. This keeps all the crevices tightly sealed and keeps any gasoline smells from entering the home in the future. 

6. Install an Exhaust Fan

If you spend a lot of time handling gasoline and other chemicals in your garage, consider hiring a general contractor near you to install an exhaust fan. It’s a small investment in your home that will make a big difference. The exhaust fan circulates the stale air out, bringing in fresh air from outside. It’s an easy way to make sure your home continues to stay free of odors from your garage. 

This can be as simple as having a bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan—both work great for this purpose. Just turn on the exhaust fan whenever you handle gasoline to keep your indoor air smelling clean.